Store-service apparatus.



G. JACOBS.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912.

1, 111,885, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

4 BHEETSSHEET 1.

THE NURRIS PETERS C0,. FHDTOJJTHOU WASHINGTON. Dv C,

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

| '1 m e w m .1 Q

1 m m h g 1 M NW N m m f [Iii/Ill]! 11/011 THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON D- C.

G. JACOBS.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 27, 1912.

1,1 1 1,835. Patented Sept.29,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3' mm m. 46

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LII'HQ, WASHINGTON. D. C,

G. JACOBS.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.27, 1912.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

4 SHBETSSEEET 4.

- THE NORRIS PETERS C0 PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGTON, r). C.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. A

GEORGE JACOBS, or cLEvELAND, onio, ssionon; BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE LAMso COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Application filed November 27, 1912. Serial No. 733,872.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEoReE J Aoons,-a citizen of the United States. residing in the city of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service .=i.pparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus and has been particularly adapted to the drop basket type thereof, where the basket or receptacle for the articles transported is temporarily supported by a carriage movable along a. trackway, fromwvhichit may be separated at the end of the track system and allowed to descend to a lower level to be filled or emptied. As this type of apparatus is well known it does not here-need a detail description; and while my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a store service system of this kind all of the improvements thereof are not limited in their useful applications to sucha system, and I therefore wish it to be under stood that the invention herein presented may be embodied and used in connection with apparatus differing from that illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In such drawings Figure 1 is a side view of so much of a store service apparatus as is necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carriage and of portions of the track on which it travels and the support therefor. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the carriage being broken away. Fig. 4: is a plan view of a portion of the carriage, the bracket that carries one pair of supporting wheels being in section. Figs. 5 and 6 are central longitudinal sectional views of the portion of the carriage shown in Fig. 4, Fig 5 representing the parts in the position they occupy when the basket or parcel receiver is released from the carriage, and Fig. 6 the position they occupy when the basket is supported thereby. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the carriage illustrating in fulllines the positions assumed by parts at the moment the basket lifted. into engagement with the carriage, and in dotted lines the position occupiedby parts immediately before the basket support comes into engagement withthe carriage. Fi 8 is a top plan View of the plate from which the parcel-carrying basket is support taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 3.

- ed. Fig. 9 is a detail view in elevation illustratlng the lock for uniting the basket plate and the lifting yoke. Fig. 10 is. a longitu dinal sectional view of the lock represented in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner of supporting the frame and pulleys for the propelling cord.

In the said drawings the'track upon which the carriage or car 10 travels is represented as being formed of a pair of parallel taut wires 2, 2. This is supported at its ends by hangers 3, but one of which is shown in the drawings. 1 Upon the lower end of the hanger is secured asocket piece or support 4 carrying a number of the parts of the apparatus. Guy wires 5 are secured to this piece in anypreferred or well known manner and serve to steady the apparatus.

6 indicates a hollow rod or tube supported by the piece land extending forward therefrom parallel with and; between the track wires, but preferably at a level above them.

;At its forward end it carries apulley 7 around jwhich 1 passes the propelling I cord 8.

This'is secured at oneend to a slide or chaser 9 adapted to engage with thecarriage and impart thereto the impulse employed for propelling it along the track. This chaser is preferably supported by and travels along the tube or rod 6 and is provided with a pulley 11 that engages therewith. The tube or rod 6 is open on its underside as indicated at to permit a projection from thejslide or chaser 9 to enter the tube, as represented in Fig. 11. Thatportion ofthe propelling cord 8 that is in advance of the chaser and between it and the. pulley 11 lies within the tube and is concealed and protected thereby, as. represented in Figs. 1 and 3. The cord 8 after turning about the pulley 11 passes rearwardly and engages with a set of multiplying pulleys supported ina'swinging frame at the rearof the hanger B. In its course the cord passes through an aperture 13in the hanger and thence longitudinally through a tube 12 that is supported in the piece 4 and extendsrearwardlytherefrom, thebore or central opening of the said tube being axially in line. with the aperture 13. A portion of the tube 12 is cut away, as indicated at 14, to permit an entrance to the I tube 12 is the upper pulley 17 supported in the frame 15. This frame is suspended upon the tube or rod 12 so as to' be free to turn 'thereabout, being held against longitudinal movement thereon by the screw 16. 18 designates another pulley supported in the frame 15, and-19, a pulley supported in a floating frame to which is attached the cord or handle20 by which the propelling cord is manipulated.

It will be-seen that, in an arrangement such as described where the rim of the pulley 1T enters the tube 12, and where the frame 15 is free to turn upon the tube, the propelling cord is shielded and protected where it passes the standard 3, and also. that the operator may stand on either side of the trackway, as well as directly in line there with, when operating the cord to propel the r iage, and that wherever he may stand the cord may be manipulated without causing it to rub and wear.

At each end of the apparatus is a carriageretaining hook21 of usual or preferred construction, suitably supported and provided with buffer springs 22, 22. A pivoted catch 25 suitably mounted in the frame of the carriage engages with the hook 21 as the carriage comes to the end of the track. This catch is provided with a projecting part 2'? that is'engaged by the chaser 9 so as to tilt the catch. into position to free it from the hook and thus release the carriage when the cord 8 is pulled. The catch is also provided '1 with a cross piece or contact part 28 with which a locking lever, to be hereinafter described, is adapted to engage.

The basket or receptacle '31 in which the articles to be transported are placed is adapted to be intermittently brought into engagement with, and released from, the carriage 10, at one or both ends of the apparatus; and to permit this, aswell as to secure certain advantages that will be stated, I have devised the mechanism which I will now describe.

The elevating cords are designated 32 and they may be supported and operated in any suitable way. They are secured to a yoke 34- thatis adapted to be brought into engagement with and to support the plate 29 fromwhich the basket is suspended by the rods 30. This plate in most of its features is of usual construction, butfit is preferably providedfwith a pair of pins 33 that are adapted to be brought into engagement with a clutch or gripping means supported by the carriage. "The frame ofthe carriage is pro vided at itscenter with a depending housing 35 substantially cylindricalin shape and cut away or slotted upon its opposite sides, the walls of these slots bei.n'g' inclined, as indicated' at 36, to'co'nstitu'te guides for prop erly directing the pins as the basket is being lifted into engagement with the carindicated at 4'0, and formed with a pair of hooks 39, 39, above which are seats for the pins 33, the hooks being adapted to lie across the upper portions of the slots in the housin closing them just below the seats for the pins. The sleeve is supported by a ball bearing 4:2 carried by a cross plate 37, and is acted upon by a spring 43 that tends to turn it into such position that the hooks 39 lie across the slots in the housing but permit it to yield and turn backward when the basket is lifted, and thus leave the slots free and open.

The sleeve 38 is provided with an arm -14; that projects therefrom and engages with a flanged cam wheel 41G mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft 4.? supported in the framework of the carriage. The flange of this wheel is shaped to form a series of cams or projections 48, four in number, separated by depressions. The relations of the arm 14 and wheel 4-6 are such. that the arm lies in one of the depressions between projections l8, under normal conditions, that is, whenever the hooks 39 lie across the slots 36 and are in position to engage with the pins 33 and hold the basket suspended. The ends of the projections 48 are recessed or formed into seats adapted to receive the arm M, which latter is preferably provided with a roller 45 that freely turns and is in engagement with the flange of the wheel 46, thus reducing friction as these parts are moved. /Vhenthe wheel is turned, in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 5, the roller 45 is caused to ride up the inclined face 41 of a tooth or projection 18 of the cam wheel, and in so doing turns the sleeve 38 suhiciently far to carry the hooks 39 out of the slots in the housing thus releasing the supporting pins 33 and leaving the basket and the parts from which it is suspended free to descend. In order to turn the cam wheel 46 I prefer to employ the following mechanism. 51 indicates a lever pivoted to the frame of the carriage and carrying a pawl 50 that acts upon a ratchet wheel 19 which is secured fast to the shaft 47 on which is supported the cam wheel 46. The pawl lever 51 is provided with a contact plate that lies directly above and in the path of a freely sliding pin 53 mounted in the cross plate 37 of the carriage frame and extending downward into the housing 35. The yoke 34 to which the lifting cords 32 are secured is formed with a contact portion 54 that is adapted to engage with the end of the sliding pin 53 whencvrur the yoke is lifted to its highest position. As

"port to the carriage whenever pawl 50 to engage with the ratchet Wheel 49 and rotate it and the cam wheel 46; A spring 52 acts upon the pawl lever 51, re tracting it and positively bringing it and the sliding pin 53 into normal positions whenever the yoke islet fall sufliciently far to disengage such pin. 1

The parts described, as will be seen, constitute a lock for uniting the basket supthese parts are brought together. 7 j. a a a The number of teeth upon the rachet wheel 19 is twice the number of teeth or projections 418 of the cam wheel 46, and the two wheels are fixed upon the shaft 37 in such relationship to each other thatwhen the pawl 50 operates upon one tooth. of the ratchet wheel the cam wheel is turned to such position that the arm 44 of the rotatable clutch sleeve 38 occupies one of the depressions between the teeth or projections 48, and when the pawl acts upon the next ratchet teeth the cam wheel is turnedso as to cause the arm at to occupy the recess in the end of one of the projections as, thus holding the clutch in open position. V

1 provide means for positively locking tie carriage 10 whenever it is at the end; of the trackway and the basket is released therefrom, thus making itirnpossible to propel the carriage along the track, even should the propelling cord 8 be pulled, unless the basket has been brought into engagement with the carriage and is locked or clutched thereto. that there is at the end of the system a hook :21 with which engages apivoted catch supported by the carriage, and that such catch is engaged by the chaser 9 whenever a pulling force is applied to the propellinc; cord 8. 59 designates a locking lever pivoted in. the frame of the carriage and acted upon by a spring 60 that tends to maintain it in position with its outer arm inengagen'ient with the contact piece 28 of the catch 25, which is thereby locked. The other arm of the lever engages with a star wheel 56 secured to the shaft 47. This wheel has four rays, 57, the end of each of which is formed into aseat adapted to receive the inner arm of' the lever 59 and hold it againstaccidental separation therefrom. "The-relation of the star wheel to the other wheels uponthe shaft 47 is such tha'ta depresslon between two of tilt ray; is in position to receive the inner end of the lever whenever the clutch parts are in position to release the basket from the carriage; and one of the rays 57 *acts upon the lever and holds it away from the catch whenever the parts are in position securing this.

I have already stated;

features, of well known construction and deslgned that whenever the plate is lifted into engagement withthe carriage 10 and locked thereto the yoke may drop a short distance, when the basket and its suspension plate Wlll be free to move along "together the suspension plate and the yoke whenever the basket is separated from the carriage, and I have provided means for 61, 61 represent perforated lugs carried by the yoke 34. These are so disposed that when the yoke is brought into operative relation to the supporting plate 29 the perforations or sockets in the lugs 61 lie oppositethe ends of slide bolts 62, 62, which are supported and operated by levers 6 1," (ii pivotally supported by the pins 33 which are supported by the plate 29. Springs 63 act upon the levers 64: and tend to move them into such positions as to cause thebolts 62 to be thrown into the apertures or recesses in the lugs 61. When this takes place theyoke and basketsupporting plate are locked together, and this occurs whenever the basket is released from the carriage "In order to unlock the basket plate from theyoke as the plate is brought into engagen'ient with the carriage I so shape the levers 6 that the arms 66 thereof engage with the housing 35 as the plate is lifted into engagement with the carriage, causing thelevers to be rocked, and the bolts to be withdrawn from engagement with the lugs. i

The operation of the apparatus described may now be stated. It will be supposed that the carriage is at one end of the trackway as represented in Fig. 1, where it is locked by the cooperation of the lever 59, the catch 25' and hook29. Itwill also be supposed that the basket has been lowered and that the supporting plate thereof and the yoke'34 are locked together by the bolts 62. The clutch or look that unites the basket plate to the carriage willbe in the position indicated in F 3 and .5, that is to say, the hooks 39 of the rotatable clutch sleeve 38.will.be' moved out of the slots 36 in the housing, leaving themunobstructed.

Itbeing desired to transport the basket,the

cords 32 are pulled, lifting the y'okeythe basket suspension plate and the basket, and as these parts approach the carriage the sup porting pins 33 enter the slots or "eccss'es 36 in the housing 35 and pass upward therein into position to be engaged by the hooks of the sleeve 38. At the same time the yoke engages witht'he sliding pin 53 and lifts it into contact with the pawl lever 51 which is thereby rocked, causing the pawl 50 to engage with the ratchet wheel :9 and turn it, the shaft 47, and the other wheels secured thereto, in the direction of the arrow a; This rotation of the shaft 47 turns the cam wheel 16 suiiiciently far to release the arm is of the clutch sleeve 38, which, under the action of the spring 43, turns, and carries the hooks 39 belowxthe pins 33, locking the basket andvits supporting plate to the carriage. At the same time the star wheel 56 is turned, bringing one of its rays into engagement with the inner arm of the locking lever 59 and moving it so as to free the catch 25. As the yoke and basket plate approach the carriage the inner arms 66 of the levers 64: come into engagement with the housing 35, rocking the levers and withdrawing the bolts from engagement with the lugs 61,

thus unlocking the yoke from the basket plate. The next operation is the lowering of the yoke so as to free it from the basket in order that the latter may be free to move with the carriage. After this has taken place the propelling cord is pulled, causing the slide or chaser 9 to come into engagement with the arm 27 of the catch 25, which is thereby rocked and moved out of engagement with the hook 21, whereupon the carriage is free to be propelled. So long as the carriage is in transit the basket is held locked thereto, and the locking lever 59 is held out of. engagement with the catch 25. vWhen the carriage returns the catch 25 and hook engage, and hold the carriage, without, however, it being locked against propulsion, should the cord 8 be put under tension. When it is desired to drop the basket the yoke is first lifted into engagement with the plate 29. This operates the pin 53, which acts upon the pawl lever 51 and causes the shaft 47 vand the wheels carried thereby to be turned sufficiently far to cause the catch 25 to be locked, and the clutch sleeve to bebination of a traveling carriage, a vertically movable article holder, a clutch movable about a vertical axis, for uniting the said holder to the carriage,-means for moving the clutch to release the holder and for maintaining it in open position while the holder is separated from the carriage, and means arranged to release the clutch from the said holding means and operated as the holder is brought into engagement with the can riage.

2. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, a vertically movable article holder, a clutch upon'the carriage for uniting it and the holder, a

cam device also upon the carriage for determining the open and the closed positions of the clutch, and means for actuating the said cam device arranged to be operated as the holder is brought into engagement with the carriage.

3. In a store service apparatus, the com bination of a traveling carriage, an article holder, means for vertically moving the article holder to lift it into engagement with the carriage and to lower it therefrom, a clutch for uniting the holder and the carriage, a cam device for determining the open and the closed positions of the clutch, and means for actuating the cam device operatedby the said means for vertically moving the holder, arranged to move it to cause the clutch to unite the holder and carriage when the said means move the holder into engagement with carriage, and to open the clutch to release the holder when the said means are moved upward to receive the carriage preparatory to lowering it.

d. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, an article holder, a slotted cylinder carrying hooks, mounted in the carriage, and constituting a clutch for uniting the said holder to the carriage, a cam device for determining the open and the closed positions of the said clutch, and means for actuating said cam device.

5. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, an article holder, a slotted cylinder carrying hooks mounted in the carriage so as to be free to oscillate and constituting a clutch for uniting the said holder to the carriage, an arm extending from the cylinder, a cam device arranged to act upon the said arm to determine the open and the closed positions of the said clutcl1,.and means for actuating the said cam device.

6. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, carrying a slotted housing, an article holder, a slotted cylinder carrying hooks mounted in the said housing of the carriage so as to be free to oscillate and provided with a laterally extending projection, the said cylinder constituting a clutch for uniting the said holder to the carriage, a cam device acting upon the said projection of the oscillating cylinder for determining the open and the closed positions of the clutch, and means for intermittently actuating the said cam device to cause the clutch to assume the said positions successively.

7 In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage provided with a depending slotted housing, an article holder, a cylinder supported in the said housing and free to oscillate therein about a substantially vertical axis, the cylinder being slotted and formed with hooks whereby it serves as a clutch to unite the holder to the carriage, a lateral projectioncarried by the cylinder, a cam wheel also mounted in the carriage and arranged to act upon the said lateral projection and arranged to determine the open and the closed positions:

of the clutch, and means for actuating the cam wheel. 1

8. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage provided with a depending slotted housing, an article holder, means for vertically moving the article holder to lift it into engagement with the carriage and to lower it therefromfa the open and the closed positions of the clutch, and a ratchet and pawl for actuating the cam wheel arranged to be operated by the means for vertically moving the holder.

9. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, an article holder, means for vertically moving the article holder to lift it into engagement with the carriage a'ndto lower" it; therefrom, a clutch for uniting the holder and the carriage, a ratchet and pawl device operated by the means for vertically moving the holder as they approach the carriage, and means operated by the ratchet and pawl device for determining the open and the closed positions of the clutch.

10. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, a detach-,

able article holder to be carried thereby, and

means for preventing the carriage from being impelled until the holder 1 is secured thereto, comprising a holding catch,a lever for locking the catch, and a star wheel acting on the said lever and arranged to hold it alternately in looking engagement with the catch and out of engagement therewith.

11. In a store service apparatus, the com bination of a traveling carriage, a detachable article holder to be earned thereby, a

clutch for uniting the article holder with the carriage, a cam device for determining the open and the closed positions of the clutch, a catch for holding the carriage, a lock for the holding catch, a wheel with projections arranged to control the positions of the said look, a single shaft upon which the said devices for controlling the clutch and the holding catch are supported, and means for turning the shaft arranged to be operated as the article holder is applied to the carriage. j

12. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage having a depending housing, a plate from wh1ch the article receptacle is suspended, means for uniting the said plate with the carriage, a

vertically movable lifting member adapted tolbe brought into engagement with the said suspension plate for supporting the plate and 'receptacle as they are being lifted into engagenient with the carriage and lowered therefrom, and means for locking together thesaid lifting member and suspension plate comprising bolts adapted to engage with the lifting member, spring-actuated levers pivotally supported in the suspension plate connected with and operating the boltsand shapedso as to come into' engagement with the said housing of the carriage to withdraw the bolts from engagement with thelifting member asrthe lifting: plate is brought into engagement with the carriage.

13. In a store service apparatus, thecom bination ofa trackway, a support for one end thereof, ahollow rod extending forwardlyfrom the said support in a position adjacent to andsubstantially parallel with the traclnvay',,the rod being slotted, apropell'ing cord, a pulley supported near the forward end of the said'slotted rod about course from the said pulley to the chaser through the said hollowrod and being. connected to said chaser within said rod.

14. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a trackway, a hanger for supporting oneend thereof, a propelling cord, a pulley about which the cord passes located in front ofthe said hanger, and a hollow rod supported upon the hanger and extending rearwardly therefrom, the propelling cord passing through the said rod and through a perforation formed in the hanger in line withtherod.

15. In a store service apparatus,the combination-of a trackway, a support for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a hollow rod extending rearwardly from the said track .sway support and longitudinally through the interior of which the said propelling cord passes, a portion of the rod being cut away, and a pulley over which the propelling cord passes, entering the said hollow rod through the opening formed by cutting away a por- ,tion thereof as stated.

16; In a store service system, the combination of a trachway, a support for one end thereof, a propelling cord, a rod extending fromthe said support, and a frame .bination of a traveling carriage, an attachextending from the said support and longitudinally through which the propelling cord passes, a portion of the rod being cut away, a frame s'vviveled-upon the said rod,

. and a pulley for the propelling cord mounted in said frame and arranged with its rim extending into the said rod through the opening formed by the cut away portion thereof.

18. In a store service apparatus, the comable article holder to be carried thereby, and means for preventing the carriage from being impelled until the holder is secured thereto, comprising a holding .catch, means for locking the catch, and means connected to said carriage, acting on said locking means, and arranged to hold the latter alternately .in locking engagement with the catch and out of engagement therewith.

19. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a traveling carriage, an attachable article holder to be carried thereby, and

, ing said clutch in open position while the holder is separated from the carriage, and means arranged to release the clutch from the said holding means and operated as the holder is broughtinto engagement with the carriage.

21. Store service apparatus comprising a receptacle supporting-frame provided with laterally extending parts, means for elevating said frame, a catch with which said parts engage having a hook for engaging therewith rotatable about a substantially vertical axis, and means for positively holding said hook in position to operatively engage with the said parts.

22. The combination of a carrier receptacle with means for moving said receptacle through a determined path of travel, and means for automatically locking said receptacle at a determined point in said path, said locking means comprising a pivoting element, a locking member secured to said element and movable rotarily thereon, the axis of said element being substantially parallel to said path at said point, a second locking part adapted for hooking engagement with said member when said member and second part are moved into a determined relationship with respect to each other, and means for rotating said locking member about the said axis alternately in opposite directions.

- The combination of a carrier receptacle'with means for moving said receptacle through a determined path of travel, and means for automatically locking said receptacle at a determined point in said path, said locking means comprising a pivoting element, a locking member secured to said element and movable rotarily thereon, the axis of said element being substantially parallel to said path at said point, and a second locking part adapted for hooking engagement with said member when said member and second part are moved into a determined relationship with respect to each other, said hooking engagement being at two spaced points, one upon either side of said axis, and means for rotating said looking member about said axis alternately in opposite directions.

GEORGE JACOBS.

lVitnesses RICHARD Ixcms, Gno. B. Pirrs.

Copies oi! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

